Follow
Spencer Olivier saved his best defensive performance for the final match of the NORCECA Continental Championship.
The Long Beach State outside attacker finished with a match-high five blocks as the United States defeated the Dominican Republic 21-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-22, 25-21 on Monday in Durango, Mexico to finish the tournament in fifth place.
The United States had a tournament-high 15 blocks and three players with multiple blocks against the Dominican Republic. Along with Olivier, UCLA middle attacker Merrick McHenry and former Ohio State opposite Jake Hanes each had four blocks.
Olivier also contributed 14 excellent service receptions and 12 kills in the victory. This was the second time in the last three matches that Oliver finished with double-digit kills.
Setter Josh Tuaniga had a match-high 43 assists and guided the United States to out-hit the Dominican Republic .345 to .248.
Hanes led the United States with both 15 kills and two aces. Penn State All-American outside attacker Brett Wildman also had 14 kills on a .393 attack percentage in the victory.
Wildman defensively contributed nine digs against the Dominican Republic. In addition, former Stanford libero Kyle Dagostino had a match-high 13 digs.
Outside attacker Henry Antonio Lopez Capellan in the loss led the Dominican Republic with 13 kills.
The United States closes the NORCECA Continental Championship winning its final two matches. The team primarily comprised of college players finished in second place in group-play but lost to Canada in the quarterfinals to fall out of medal contention.